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Asus U3 laptop gets official
The Asus U3, which we told you about back in the hot and humid days of July, has gotten its official announcement from the company -- and it looks pretty sweet. The Santa Rosa-based, 13.3-inch laptop still rocks a Core 2 Duo processor (in T7500, T7300, T7100, T5450, T5250, CM540), a Nvidia GeForce G8400M G External graphics chipset, up to 2.5GB of RAM, and a 160GB SATA hard drive. In the communications department, the U3 packs 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.0, but apparently the GPS we mentioned will be offered as an option along with 3G connectivity and turbo memory. The system also includes a slew of ports, like eSATA, HDMI, GPS RF in, USB, Firewire, VGA/D-Sub, and TV out, plus rocks a built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam and fingerprint reader. Luckily for you fashion plates, Asus has stuck with the leather-bound hand rests and "piano black" exterior, all wrapped up in a magnesium aluminum alloy, which the company thinks is perfect for "metropolitan professionals." The laptop is rumored to be available in September for around $2000.[Via Laptoping]
Louis Vuitton releases first luxury iPhone cases
This wasn't on the iPhone Bingo card, but it should have been. Where there's an extremely coveted gadget, there'll be an extremely expensive luxury case for it. Louis Vuitton has announced a set of four cases for the iPhone: Monogram Canvas, Taiga Leather, Epi Leather and Alligator Skin. The Taiga Leather one has a belt attachment on it, but all of the cases are pretty inconvenient, because you've got to pull the iPhone all the way out to actually use it.Oh, and we've saved the best for last. Want to guess prices? The Monogram Canvas case will only set you back a measly $225, while the Alligator Skin case is twice the price of the actual iPhone: $1120. All the cases will be available tomorrow at Louis Vuitton's Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan.Thanks, JW!
Asus U3 caught on film
Asus, a company that's pushing some pretty interesting and innovative products into the spotlight as of late, is stepping up to bat with another new entry, dubbed the U3. The 13.3-inch ultraportable rocks a Billy Joel-approved "piano black" exterior, with a smooth, sensual leather finish on the palm rests, making it stylistically quite distinctive. The U3 features the much-loved Santa Rosa chipset, and will likely utilize one of Intel's low voltage Core 2 Duo processors (the L7500, for instance), but that's just where the fun begins on this baby. The jam-packed specs include integrated GPS, HDMI and S-Video outs, eSATA, USB, and Firewire ports; SD and ExpressCard 54 slots; and an NVIDIA 8400M graphics chipset -- which can be switched off via hardware for power conservation. Asus reps say the system is due in September at a price point somewhere around $2,000.[Thanks, Coriolis]
Phat Loot Phriday: Helmets of Second Sight
Today's Phat Loot isn't just one helmet-- it's actually your choice of six available from a neat questline in Outlands. So stick with me here. Things may get a little complicated.Name: (Overlord's, Shamanistic, Druidic, Stealther's, Evoker's, Stalker's) Helmet of Second SightType: Rare (Cloth, Leather, Mail, Plate) HeadArmor: VariesAbilities: They all have different abilities, of course, according to their title. You can see a list of all the available helmets here (the Scintillating Headdress is not one of the quest rewards, actually). Altogether, if you run this quest, you'll get a pretty nice pre-Epic helmet out of it. Also: All the helmets "allow the bearer to see into the ghost world while in Shadowmoon Valley." It's a lore thing, stick with me. And if you haven't noticed yet, all the helmets are reskins of the Tier 2 helmets (and in some cases, Tier 1-- see Warrior Helm above) that originally dropped from Onyxia and Molten Core. So if you never got to get your Dragonstalker's Helm or your Helmet of Ten Storms, here's your chance to get a lookalike. With better stats, if you ask me. How to Get It: You've got to do the Teron Gorefiend quest chain in Shadowmoon Valley. It's quite fun, will net you a lot of XP (if you're not 70 yet), a little bit of gold, and your choice of these helmets.For Alliance, it starts with a quest called "Ghost in the Machine" from Zoram the Judicator (geez, what did his mom have against him?) at Wildhammer Stronghold. Horde go to Chief Apothecary Hildagard in Shadowmoon Village for a quest called "A Haunted History." That chain will take you through about seven quests, most of which are soloable (one of them asks for two players, and one of them requires a full 5man group to do). At the end of the quest chain, you'll meet up with the man himself (and make a "mistake" that really wasn't your problem in the first place.As for Gorefiend himself, I don't want to spoil anything, but you'll meet up with him later in the Black Temple (I'm not sure if you actually need the helmet to face him, as the questgiver hints, but you might want to keep it anyway). Meanwhile, you'll get a spiffy helmet that will get you ready to start up the level 70 instances at endgame. Grats!Getting Rid of It: They all sell for different values, from about 2g for the cloth helmet, up to 4g for the plate version. Disenchanting any of them will hook you up with a Large Prismatic Shard.
Lenovo's ThinkPad Reserve Edition gets a teaser site
Nearly a month after Lenovo teased us with its Olympic-inspired laptop, and just days after loosing a bevy of Santa Rosa machines on the world, Lenovo is catching our eyes once more with an admittedly lacking teaser site for a Reserve Edition ThinkPad. The very non-interactive website sports an annoying background track, a cheesy selection of closeup leathermaking shots, and absolutely zero information about an actual computer. Of course, one could theorize that the firm has a leather-clad lappie in the pipeline for the affluent set, but it's not like you can't get that already. Nevertheless, this certainly isn't the first nor the last time we'll see such tease acts in order to hype up a currently unreleased product, but hopefully the deets on this one will end up surfacing as quickly as those on the Beijing machine did.[Via LenovoBlogs, thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Cut-rate cases at Circuit City
Looking for a decent case to clothe your DS Lite with, but not willing to spend more than a few bucks? Even if you lack the craft skills to create one from scratch, there's still hope for you frugal folks.Circuit City has thrown Intec's DS Lite Ultimate Leather cases into the bargain bin, selling the magnetic clasping cover for $2.99. You could probably buy one with just the change you'd find on the electronics retailer's parking lot or in its pay phone coin returns. Try not to be too obvious about it though. You'll look like a homeless vagrant foraging for pennies, and the store manager might call the cops to escort you off the property.Intec's cases come in white, pink, black, blue, blue, and camo, some of these colors having "Crocco" variations or only being available with the crocodile texture. The sale is available both in-store and online, but much like Nerf's DS Lite Armor, the styles are shipped randomly. Even the vagabonds will point and laugh if you come around with the pink, crocodile-leather case that you'll inevitably get after ordering from Circuit City's site.[Via CAG]
Brookstone's Digital Photo Wallet eliminates need for prints
While digiframe manufacturers keep pushing for larger and larger LCD sizes to adorn (or completely consume) your coffee tables, Brookstone's going the opposite direction with its Digital Photo Wallet. The presumably chintzy "nappa leather" wallet doesn't look to be of much better quality than those sold at your favorite dollar-for-everything store, but it does manage to house a 1.4-inch LCD that reportedly stores 55 photos. Additionally, it's completely removable and rechargeable, sports an on / off button and scroll controls, and interfaces with your PC via USB. Of course, you could just stick with the wallet you're comfortable with and pick up a digital photo keychain, but if you're serious about this one here, watch for it in mid-May for $59.
ASUS: the rest of the bunch at CeBIT
We've gotta say, Asus made a pretty decent showing at CeBIT this year. We covered the new releases and rocked 'em for you yesterday -- now here's the best of the rest. The Z801 is a high-end tri-band device that has been given the super-style treatment by Asus. The screen is sapphire crystal, the handset is lovingly accented with leather, and a dash of chrome is thrown in for good measure. Features include Bluetooth (A2DP and AVRCP lovingly included), a 2 megapixel cam, and a gee-whiz Karaoke feature that allows you to wail along with your favorite songs while seeing your speech converted to text on the screen. We also bumped into the C1000 3.5G HSDPA data card -- this thing is sick (and that's saying something for a fricking data card) thanks to quad-band GSM, triple-band WCDMA, and phone call / SMS / MMS management. No word on pricing for the C1000, but it sounds like something we could use, like, right away. Check the shots on the following page. Asus at CeBIT
Rich Corinthian leather for your DS Lite, not your wallet
Tired of your Nintendo DS looking sad and forlorn in it's simple plastic shell? Ready to upgrade that sucker to ultra-executive wannabe? Then wrap it in leather with primo stitching, and fool everyone in the boardroom into thinking you've got some fancy new PDA, while you secretly unravel the secrets in Hotel Dusk: Room 215.Sister site DS Fanboy has the goods on the covers for the DS only, which appear to come in dark brown and ... light brown from Cataloger (Japan). What, no black? C'mon, we need a black leather case for our black DS lite with black stylus. Fortunately, you can pick up a black and tan (delicious) case for your DS Lite over at Play-Asia, where Hori has three different shades going on, plus a nifty retaining strap.When you start buying accessories that are more expensive than what's inside, then it might be time for a little self-examination. Then again, we just can't help ourselves.[Thanks, Anon I Mousse]
Wrap your DS in leather, anger a vegan
Do you sit elegantly at your desk, legs crossed, sipping on a chilled Mountain Dew with your pinky ever-so-slightly pointed upward? That means you have class, buddy! And that also means this leather DS case might be for you (unless you're one of those folk who don't abide by how leather is made). It just screams sophistication and demands a classy individual such as yourself own it. Just imagine: you could have your DS wrapped in leather and place it in your pocket next to that diamond-studded money clip and the keys to your Bentley. As for us, well we rarely even wear pants. What's the point of looking good in a dark dungeon? Our pants would only be ruined from the constant whippings we receive from our cruel overlords anyway.
Asus announces leather-bound W6Fp laptop
Asus may not be ready to provide many specs on its new Lamborghini laptop just yet, but the company's more than happy to spill the details on another of its latest rock solid, heart touching laptops, the W6Fp. As with its Lambo brethren, the W6Fp comes wrapped in leather for your typing pleasure, along with what look to be nearly desktop-sized keys for some additional comfort. Specs-wise, you'll get a 13.3-inch WXGA display, a 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo T5600 processor, Intel 945GM Express integrated graphics, 1GB of memory (up to 1.5GB), a 120GB hard drive, DVD super multi drive, and, of course, Windows Vista (Home Premium edition by default). Rounding out the laptop are built in Bluetooth and WiFi, and a battery that'll give you just 2.7 hours of juice on a charge, although you can nearly double that if you pop in the extra "bulk battery" included with the system. Look for this one to hit Japan at the end of the month for about 249,800 Yen, or just over $2,000.[Via Impress]
Alligator iPod speakers
Nothing says, 'I love you,' more this holiday season than an iPod Hi-Fi wrapped in Alligator skin. What iPod toting excotic skin lover wouldn't be happy to find this Dunhill Alligator iPod Speaker with their name on it? This is a one of a kind, made to order, item which means it is pricey, but it does use real Alligator skin which is more than I can say about Belkin's iPod accessories.Sadly, Dunhill's website is mostly Flash, so I can't link directly to the Alligator speakers. However, they are the 21st item on the Perfect Gifts list.Pricing starts at £500.[via bookofjoe]
Prestigio offers up leather-wrapped Data Safe II portable HDD
Prestigio is at it again, this time bringing a somewhat prestigious portable hard drive wrapped in supple, sure-to-be-costly leather. This tidbit of luxury sports a 0.69- x 3.20- x 5.16-inch enclosure, which is covered in a "stylish classic black or brown leather coating," and houses your choice of 40, 60, 80, 100 or 120GB 2.5-inch hard drive. Additionally, it boasts a "one touch" backup system, allowing you to clone your data onto the portable drive with just the press of a button, and while it supports a software-based password system, the lack of a biometric scanner keeps it from true greatness. The classy Data Safe II comes packaged in a "fashionable box," derives all the power it needs from just a USB 2.0 port, and should be available real soon. Although there's no price set just yet, you can sign up for the "pre-sale" on the company's website should you so desire.
ASUS's Golden Edition VX1 and leather S6F: if you got it, flaunt it
Asus just went official with at least one of the 4 leaked laptops we saw a few weeks back -- the Lamborghini emblazoned VX1 "Golden Addition" -- and hit us with yet another leather-clad model in their S6F. The Golden Edition VX1 is all that we heard: packed beneath that 15.2-inch SXGA+ (1400x1050) display you'll find up to 2GB of DDR2 memory, a dual-layer DVD burner, 3.7-hour battery and an ExpressCard/54 slot among a wide range on in/outs with a 2.16GHz Core 2 Duo proc and 128MB of nVidia GeForce Go 7400 VX graphics providing the vroom, vroom. Thing is, they skimped on the disk with an Ultra ATA/100 160GB HDD spinning at 5,400rpm. If that doesn't scare you off then you'd best get moving race-boy, only 200 will be produced, in Japan anyway. Also announced is the 11.1-inch WXGA (1366×768) S6F which smacks of the S7Fm leaked, albeit dressed in a fine suit of dead cow. It opts for a 1.66GHz L2400 Core Duo processor and up to 1.5GB of DDR memory and 100GB disk, Intel 945GM Express graphics, a dual-layer DVD burner, ExpressCard/54 slot, and even a webcam in the bezel like any good laptop should these days. You'd better opt for the 3.75-hour, 6-cell battery though 'cause the standard battery only manages a pathetic 1.6-hours. Well, at least it'll look nice in your purse. Both will hit Japan's wealthiest starting tomorrow with the little S6F set to demand ¥279,800 (about $2,387) on up to a preposterous ¥389,000 (about $3,318) for the VX1. Now how 'bout showing us those leaked gaming rigs, ok ASUS?[Via Impress] Read -- S6F Leather Addition Read -- Lamborghini VX1 Golden Addition
Asus rolls out leather-clad W6 and S6 notebooks
Asus has unveiled a leather-clad duo of notebooks today -- the W6 and upgraded S6 -- to presumably tackle that oh-so-lucrative "luxury computing" market. While the S6 has donned the leather outfit for some time now, Asus is releasing it in a "limited run" of hot pink, which is sure to take top priority on your lovely lady's wish list. Also boasting camel / black colors, the S6 is powered by an Intel Core Duo L2300 / L2400 processor, sports an 11.1-inch WXGA display, 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth, S-Video out, five USB 2.0 inputs, and an ExpressCard slot to boot. The mightier W6 loses the pink shade, but gains options for Intel's T5500 / T5600 / T7200 Core 2 Duo processors, and a 13.3-inch WXGA screen. While there's no word on pricing or availability, we expect these tastefully decorated machines to demand a stiff premium when they hit stores. [Via Laptoping]
Ultrasone Edition 9s headphones will set you back $1,500
We'll probably never have the ears to distinguish a $1,500 pair of headphones from a $200 pair, but Ultrasone clearly thinks the Edition 9s are worth that extra fistful of cash. The company's press release claims that the technology in the 'phones "reduces sound pressure to the eardrums by an astonishing 40 percent" and that the headphones reduce EM field radiation (you know, like radio signals given off by your cellphone) by "up to 98 percent." These headphones have a frequency range of 8Hz to 35Hz, and come with Ethiopian sheep leather (is that good?) in the ear pads and headband pad.
Vertu Constellation gets the FCC treatment
If we're gonna drop a couple grand on a phone, the least it can do is give us quad-band GSM, right? As we reported a couple weeks back, Vertu's new Constellation handset picks up where their previous efforts left off, packing GSM 850/900/1800/1900 plus EDGE data all 2003-like. We weren't able to glean much from the draft manual (which still has Signature pictures in it), but the Constellation looks to rock a variant of Nokia's S40 platform -- we leave that to the world's privileged to decide whether that's an upgrade from the Signature and Ascent's OS. Look for this little slice of leather-covered opulence to drop later this year; we're sure you rich folk will find ways to shed some cash while you wait.
Doesn't your iPod HI-Fi deserve a leather case, too?
As you may recall, when Apple launched the iPod HI-Fi a few months ago, the company also rolled out a couple of spiffy leather cases for the iPod nano and iPod with video. However, despite the momentous importance of the iPod Hi-Fi, the company neglected to provide it with a leather case of its own. That oversight has, fortunately, now been remedied by Japan's Focal Point Computer Corp. The company's iPod Hi-Fi case is made of Italian leather, has openings for the Hi-Fi's speakers and ports, and includes a shoulder strap so that the Hi-Fi can more easily achieve its destiny as a portable speaker system. The price: a mere ¥34,800 (about $300), which is surely a bargain, since this will protect your "audiophile" sound system from the vagaries of the elements. What's more, that price includes a matching leather case for your iPod remote, something for which Apple would easily charge an extra $99. We suspect that just about everyone who owns an iPod Hi-Fi will be rushing to Focal Point's web site to order one of these when they roll out in June. All five of you, that is.Update: This case will also be available from Tunewear in the US for $295 as the "Concerto Bianco." No ship date has been announced. [Via iLounge]
Orbino: hand stitched leather iPod cases
I have never heard of Orbino until today, and I'm becoming perplexed as to why. They make what look like stellar hand stitched leather cases for all three of the current model iPods, offering a choice of styles, colors and unique clip and lanyard designs. Quickly browsing through their site, it looks like most of their cases run a respectable $39, which is a good price for a leather case (*ahem* Apple) that actually lets you use the iPod while it's wrapped up.Check out Orbino's offering, and if any of y'all TUAW readers have already snagged one, feel free to post your thoughts.
